LIPPINCOTT Q&A REVIEW FOR
NCLEX-RN
14TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)DIANE BILLINGS;
DESIREE HENSEL
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Overview / Purpose of the NCLEX-RN®
Licensing Examination
Stem: A nursing student asks you how the NCLEX-RN
determines whether a candidate passes the exam. Which
explanation should you provide that best reflects the NCLEX
purpose and scoring concept as described in the test plan? (The
student wants a brief, accurate rationale to reduce anxiety
before testing.)
,A. The NCLEX compares your score to a national average and
you pass if you score above that average.
B. The NCLEX evaluates whether you demonstrate the minimum
competency needed for safe, entry-level nursing practice.
C. The NCLEX gives a raw score based on the number of correct
answers; passing requires reaching a fixed raw-score cutoff.
D. The NCLEX ranks candidates; only the top percentage of
testers pass each administration.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Option B accurately reflects the exam’s
purpose: to evaluate minimum competency for safe entry-level
nursing practice. This aligns with the test plan’s emphasis on
measuring competence, not ranking. The explanation reduces
student anxiety by focusing on competence.
Rationale — A: Incorrect — the NCLEX does not use a national
average comparison; it is criterion-referenced rather than
norm-referenced.
Rationale — C: Incorrect — the NCLEX does not use a simple
raw-score cutoff; the adaptive algorithm estimates ability, not
raw totals alone.
Rationale — D: Incorrect — the NCLEX does not rank
candidates or limit passing to a fixed percentage; its standard is
competence.
Teaching point: NCLEX assesses minimum safe competency, not
relative ranking.
,Citation: Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A
Review for NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — The Test Plan / Practice Analysis
Stem: As a nursing program faculty member advising students
on study strategy, which guidance most directly aligns with the
role of the NCLEX test plan derived from practice analysis?
A. Focus primarily on memorizing medication dosages for
common drugs.
B. Concentrate study on the most frequently occurring clinical
tasks and decision-making scenarios in the test plan.
C. Study only the content emphasized in lecture exams; NCLEX
content is the same.
D. Prioritize test-taking tricks because the NCLEX tests test-
taking skills more than clinical judgment.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Option B aligns with the practice analysis
foundation of the test plan: the exam maps to the important
and frequent clinical tasks and judgment required in entry-level
practice. Prioritizing these areas improves competence and
readiness.
Rationale — A: Incorrect — memorizing dosages is narrow;
NCLEX emphasizes clinical judgment across domains.
Rationale — C: Incorrect — program exams overlap but are not
, identical to the NCLEX test plan; relying solely on lecture exams
is insufficient.
Rationale — D: Incorrect — while test strategy matters, the
NCLEX emphasizes clinical judgment and competence rather
than merely tricks.
Teaching point: Use the test plan to prioritize frequently
performed clinical tasks and judgment.
Citation: Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A
Review for NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Test Plan Details / Client Needs and
Integrated Processes
Stem: A recent graduate is building a weekly study schedule
and asks how to balance content areas (e.g., physiological
integrity, safety). Which advice best applies the NCLEX test plan
organization to her study plan?
A. Study physiological integrity exclusively, because it contains
the most items.
B. Balance study across client needs categories and incorporate
integrated nursing processes and delegation each session.
C. Focus on memorizing nursing process steps as separate
content blocks without integrating clinical scenarios.
D. Only practice independent items that test single facts;
integration is rarely tested.
NCLEX-RN
14TH EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)DIANE BILLINGS;
DESIREE HENSEL
TEST BANK
1
Reference: Ch. 1 — Overview / Purpose of the NCLEX-RN®
Licensing Examination
Stem: A nursing student asks you how the NCLEX-RN
determines whether a candidate passes the exam. Which
explanation should you provide that best reflects the NCLEX
purpose and scoring concept as described in the test plan? (The
student wants a brief, accurate rationale to reduce anxiety
before testing.)
,A. The NCLEX compares your score to a national average and
you pass if you score above that average.
B. The NCLEX evaluates whether you demonstrate the minimum
competency needed for safe, entry-level nursing practice.
C. The NCLEX gives a raw score based on the number of correct
answers; passing requires reaching a fixed raw-score cutoff.
D. The NCLEX ranks candidates; only the top percentage of
testers pass each administration.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Option B accurately reflects the exam’s
purpose: to evaluate minimum competency for safe entry-level
nursing practice. This aligns with the test plan’s emphasis on
measuring competence, not ranking. The explanation reduces
student anxiety by focusing on competence.
Rationale — A: Incorrect — the NCLEX does not use a national
average comparison; it is criterion-referenced rather than
norm-referenced.
Rationale — C: Incorrect — the NCLEX does not use a simple
raw-score cutoff; the adaptive algorithm estimates ability, not
raw totals alone.
Rationale — D: Incorrect — the NCLEX does not rank
candidates or limit passing to a fixed percentage; its standard is
competence.
Teaching point: NCLEX assesses minimum safe competency, not
relative ranking.
,Citation: Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A
Review for NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
2
Reference: Ch. 1 — The Test Plan / Practice Analysis
Stem: As a nursing program faculty member advising students
on study strategy, which guidance most directly aligns with the
role of the NCLEX test plan derived from practice analysis?
A. Focus primarily on memorizing medication dosages for
common drugs.
B. Concentrate study on the most frequently occurring clinical
tasks and decision-making scenarios in the test plan.
C. Study only the content emphasized in lecture exams; NCLEX
content is the same.
D. Prioritize test-taking tricks because the NCLEX tests test-
taking skills more than clinical judgment.
Correct answer: B
Rationale — Correct: Option B aligns with the practice analysis
foundation of the test plan: the exam maps to the important
and frequent clinical tasks and judgment required in entry-level
practice. Prioritizing these areas improves competence and
readiness.
Rationale — A: Incorrect — memorizing dosages is narrow;
NCLEX emphasizes clinical judgment across domains.
Rationale — C: Incorrect — program exams overlap but are not
, identical to the NCLEX test plan; relying solely on lecture exams
is insufficient.
Rationale — D: Incorrect — while test strategy matters, the
NCLEX emphasizes clinical judgment and competence rather
than merely tricks.
Teaching point: Use the test plan to prioritize frequently
performed clinical tasks and judgment.
Citation: Billings, D. M., & Hensel, D. (2024). Lippincott Q&A
Review for NCLEX-RN (14th ed.). Wolters Kluwer. Ch. 1.
3
Reference: Ch. 1 — Test Plan Details / Client Needs and
Integrated Processes
Stem: A recent graduate is building a weekly study schedule
and asks how to balance content areas (e.g., physiological
integrity, safety). Which advice best applies the NCLEX test plan
organization to her study plan?
A. Study physiological integrity exclusively, because it contains
the most items.
B. Balance study across client needs categories and incorporate
integrated nursing processes and delegation each session.
C. Focus on memorizing nursing process steps as separate
content blocks without integrating clinical scenarios.
D. Only practice independent items that test single facts;
integration is rarely tested.
